1
as in consecration
the act of making something holy through religious ritual
the sacred site required another sanctification after it had been defiled by the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
the Christian belief that the suffering and death of Jesus was responsible for the sanctification of all humankind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sanctification
The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century.
—
Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The underlying problem with the West, Mishra argues, is its sanctification of the Holocaust.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The underlying problem with the West, Mishra argues, is its sanctification of the Holocaust.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctification
Noun
-
The setting is the church’s 250th re-consecration.—
Roy Scranton
August 20,
Literary Hub,
20 Aug. 2025
-
The issue came to a head just before the conclave that elected Leo pope this month, when the Chinese church proceeded with the preliminary election of two bishops, a step that comes before official consecration.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
Piramal Sarvajal didn’t try to sell water purification boxes.—
Stephen Wunker,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The recovered metals are upcycled into high-nickel CAM, while graphite undergoes further purification for anode production.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To overwhelmed oncologists confronting a deluge of literature, this might look like salvation.—
Anna Forsythe,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
After so many double dinners, a great restaurant salad is my salvation.—
Elazar Sontag,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
It can be used for moisturizing, cleansing, and soothing irritated skin and as a laxative in enemas or suppositories.—
Lauren O'Connor,
Health,
2 Sep. 2025
-
This Apple Butter Cleansing Balm — the first cleansing balm for the brand — has a rich, apple-butter–like texture and a delicious crisp apple scent.—
Jackie Fields,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sanctification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctification. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share